New West firefighters want community members to have a smashing good time at their first-ever Pumpkin Drop fundraiser.
The New Westminster Firefighters' Charitable Society is holding a pumpkin drop on Saturday, Nov. 2 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the #1 fire hall at 1 East Sixth Ave. Community members can park at təməsew̓txʷ Aquatic and Community Centre, drop off their pumpkins with the firefighters, and watch them plummet from the top of the tower truck onto the tarmac behind the fire hall.
“Bring your pumpkins to the fire hall and watch New West firefighters in action,” said a notice about the event. “We’ll hoist them 100 feet up Tower 1 and let gravity do the rest. It’s a smashing good time for the whole family.”
Sean McPhee, vice-president of the charitable society, invites community members to attend its first-ever Pumpkin Drop.
“Come enjoy the day. It’s supposed to be a relatively nice day outside. There will be some Face painting, hot chocolate and tea. It should be a fun day. I mean, Who wouldn’t enjoy seeing a pumpkin smash on the ground from 100 feet?
McPhee said New Westminster’s Pumpkin Drop will put a twist on events that have been held in other communities in the Lower Mainland.
“Ours is going to be a little bit different,” he said. “We don’t have a hose tower at our Number 1 hall so we will be dropping them off the ladder truck, the tower truck.”
The New Westminster Firefighters' Charitable Society holds fundraisers including a Christmas tree chipping and a shred-athon to raise money for local charities.
“This is one of our few fundraisers for the year,” McPhee said. “This is our first year for this and we hope to continue doing it in the years to come.”
A sanitation truck with a green waste bin will be on site to gather up the splattered pumpkin pieces.
